375th Medical Group Hosts Provider Social Published Nov. 18, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Erica Crossen 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - -- Recently 375th Medical Group and local healthcare providers gathered at the Scott Air Force Base Clinic for the 3rd Annual Network Provider's Social, November 6. The social's intention was to provide a venue for off-base providers to foster a working relationship with Health Net Federal Services and Scott personnel, making off-base care for beneficiaries a smoother process. HNFS is the managed care support contractor for the TRICARE North Region. It was also a chance for local providers to see the services available on base and make connections face-to-face. Col. Bret Burton, 375th MDG Commander, said, "Our mission is to enable rapid global mobility, and to do that we have to build a ready, healthy community. With community as part of mission, we recognize that we cannot do everything we need to take care of families inside the barbed wire fence, we have to reach outside. The way we do that is through our network operated by our managed care support contractor, Health Net." "We're trying to foster the relationship between the military and our local network providers that we use," said Sabrina Luttrell, 375th MDG TRICARE Site Administrator. "It's all about making the connection with providers for better health care, including staying engaged with the patient and follow-up care," said Matthew Ruest, the Market Manager for Potomac Market, Health Net, Inc. "Scott's social is one of the best in terms of attendance, which is important to creating those relationships," said Ruest, who has attended more than a dozen socials at different military installations. "We had an increase of 20 percent in attendance from last year's social," Burton said. The attendees got an opportunity to tour several sections of the clinic, such as Physical Therapy, Dermatology, Optometry, and Radiology. "A purpose of the social is to have a better understanding of the capabilities offered at the clinic," said Luttrell. The tour included the attendees meeting the physicians and talking with them about patient care, whether a beneficiary is seen on base, or when they are referred off base for specialized care. Questions were asked such as, "Is Scott's Radiology clinic accredited by the American College of Radiology?" The answer is yes, and questions like this were posed to help providers be up to date on what can be accomplished for a patient. This kind of open communication is key, according to Ruest, to either side of the patient-care equation to ensure the best care available, regardless of where it comes from.